Coming from a family where veterinary medicine is "the thing" I figured it might be helpful to dedicate some blog posts to simple veterinary topics. Today's interview is with Veterinary Technician (and soon to be veterinary student) Danielle Cucuzella. We asked her some questions about basic animal care that every pet owner should know about. 

Q: Danielle, tell us a little bit about yourself and your involvement with animals: 

A: I am a lifelong animal lover and advocate and have worked in the veterinary field for several years. While in college I completed two undergraduate internships in large animal/equine and zoo medicine. I have been working at a local animal clinic for over two years and will soon be perusing a degree in veterinary medicine. My calling in this line of work is to educate people in order to make lives better for animals.

Q: What are some preventative measures that every pet owner should take to keep their pets healthy?

Basic preventive care for pets can differ based on location, ALWAYS consult your veterinarian to see which vaccines, de-wormers etc. are needed in your state. In our practice, the minimum amount of preventive care we want all owners to provide their pets is:

         all necessary vaccines, 

·         flea and tick prevention, 

·         heartworm prevention, and 

·         routine de-worming. 

Finally, yearly blood work is your veterinarian’s most useful tool in early detection of health issues. Pets are often brought in by owners that tell us that little Fluffy is “Just not herself”. Dogs and cats are natural predators; their instincts drive them to hide any signs of sickness and pain that would otherwise cause them to be picked off in the pack. This makes our jobs all the more difficult, because by the time Fluffy is acting abnormal, she is much sicker than her owner is willing to come to terms with. This is why blood work is so vital in diagnosing disease and sickness. If we have a history of Fluffy’s blood values, we can see trends and often times catch sickness before it has become irreversible.

Q: What about their teeth? I’ve heard of a lot of people going to the doggy dentist.

A: After reaching adulthood, over 60% of dogs and cats suffer from some form of dental disease, therefore routine dental cleanings are necessary at least once a year, more frequently for smaller breeds and geriatric pets. 

Q: Many people aren’t completely “sold on the idea of fixing their pet, so what are the medical benefits of spay/neuter?

The benefits of altering your pet are numerous, but most importantly, it will give them a better life, plain and simple. First of all, the procedures for sterilization have become very safe and pets are often back to normal within a few hours of surgery. The drugs used to sedate and anesthetize pets for surgery are the same ones used in modern pediatric medicine, including Butorphanol, Propofol, Midazolam and Sevoflurane.

Intact males are at risk for sex related cancers such as testicular and prostate cancer. Castrating your dog or cat can prevent, lessen or even halt behavioral issues such as inappropriate urinating, mounting, territorialism and escape. Over 70% of dogs hit by cars are intact males. Driven by copious amounts of hormones, they escape their yards to find a mate and breed.

Similarly, intact females are prone to mammary cancers, reproductive tract cysts and uterine infections known as pyometra. Bitches can go into heat two or more times a year, for several weeks at a time, this is a long, uncomfortable, messy and expensive experience for both dogs and owners alike. Cats on the other hand are known as spontaneous ovulators, meaning that their ovaries release an egg each time copulation occurs. Therefore, female cats can become impregnated once she weans her current litter, resulting in four or more litters a year!  

Switching gears a bit, I know I wash my hair everyday as do most humans, but the same can’t be true for animals, so the question is how often should I bathe my dog?

Your dog naturally secretes oils that coat his skin and acts as a natural water repellent  sun screen and skin conditioner. To avoid upsetting this delicate chemical balance, it is not recommended to bathe your dog unless necessary. If your pet is active and needs bathing frequently, do not exceed two baths per month, and always test a shampoo before bathing your dog by washing a small area (A paw, tail or rump are a few easy areas) to avoid any systemic allergic reactions.

There are just about as many dog shampoos on the shelf in pet stores as there are in the beauty aisle at Walmart, this can make your decision difficult. Allow me to help, walk out of the aisle! You should always get a shampoo recommended by your veterinarian, many of which carry a line of veterinary tested and approved cleansers. Over the counter shampoos and conditioners are much like human soaps, they are formulated to smell appealing, make the skin and hair soft and also dampen oil production. These are all great for your average human who bathes each day and uses artificial moisturizers, but can be very harmful to your pets overall health.

Q: And switching gears once more, recently Fauna Farms has been follow a slew of breed specific legislation and sharing such with our followers. Keeping with that topic but not in a legal sense, do you believe certain breeds are inherently aggressive or dangerous? 

This is a trick question because aggression is not a breed trait; curly fur, long whiskers and floppy ears are. Aggression is not inherited, it is learned. Some breeds have a reputation of being “inherently aggressive”, a phrase coined by today’s story-hungry media, but this is an inaccurate and ignorant statement. Some breeds are bred based on their strong, ingrained instincts; terriers for their hunting abilities, hounds for their tracking skills, and bully breeds for their innate loyalty. This is where certain breeds receive their stereotypes.

Let us take American Pit Bull Terriers for example, a breed originating in early America, designed to protect the families of business men and soldiers when they were away. The breed was specifically modified to be the ultimate security system, trained to bond to their owners and give their life if necessary. These dogs were often left in nurseries, churches and backyards to protect playing children from intruders and wild animals.

Dog fighters have taken advantage of these admirable traits and are tailoring the breed to have more stamina, higher muscle volume and wider jaws. The combination of a “tougher” looking dog, and their do-as-they’re-told instinct, have lea to many cases of wrongfully accused dogs, often put to death for simply doing as they are asked by the one who is supposed to provide love, shelter and protection in return.

On an average day I personally handle about 30 or more pets and commonly encounter aggressive dogs. Of all of these animals, I can recall only two “aggressive pit bulls”. The first was a one year old, intact male who had been chained to a tree his entire life, eating scraps and living in his own filth. I was unfortunately one of the first human he encountered and was forced to poke and probe him. I was able to gain his trust by feeding him a few milk bones and then completed his necessary treatments. The second was another dog faced to fend for herself outside and got such a bad sun burn that her skin blistered, became infected and began to slough off. She was in such a great amount of pain she became defensive. She, and the first dog are now each in new homes, who love them both dearly and I see them both regularly for preventive care and milk bones.

So let us do some math, 30 animals a day, five days a week, 52 weeks a year, over the last two years makes 15,600 animals, of which two have been American Pit Bull Terriers showing signs of aggression. In that time I have sustained memorable bite wounds five times; two times by a cat, two times by Chihuahuas and the final time by a golden retriever. In fact, I would estimate that one in two Chihuahua, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terriers I handle have to be muzzled for their exams as they are accurately categorized as “ankle biters”. In short, believe not what the media portrays, but please do your own research. Ask a knowledgeable professional for a true interpretation of a breed, after all, we are the ones who see them each at their worst. 

Q:Alright, last question I have has to do with at home care, specifically what should every pet owner keep in their pet first aid kit?

Let me start by saying, DO NOT attempt to treat your own pet for an illness or injury. I cannot tell you how many times owners have brought pets in for a simple ear infection, rash or stomach upset that has been made much worse (and much more expensive) by well-meaning owners, using internet remedies to self-treat. All owners should however know how to act in an emergency situation and have a first aid kit ready at all times.

Such a kit should include:

·         A clean towel or blanket in case you need to stop major bleeding for transport

·         A small, inexpensive clipper can be useful to assess wounds and find where any blood or fluid is coming from

·         An extra collar and leash can come in handy if your pet breaks free of their own or you stumble upon a stray in need of rescuing

·         An emergency kit should always include a muzzle, as injured animals instinctively become aggressive in self-preservation situations and can inadvertently bite their owner or rescuer.

·         A splint and/or ace bandage or vet wrap can all be useful in the event that your pet has injured a limb and you need to stabilize it on your way to the veterinarian. Let me caution you, bandaging is a much more difficult task than most owners know and it takes much practice. An incorrectly placed bandage can cut off circulation and cause permanent damage, ALWAYS let the professionals bandage a pet in need and never rely on your own wrapping skills without proper training. 

·         Finally, your emergency kit should include the numbers of your primary veterinarian as well as the closest emergency and/or 24 hour clinic to ensure you can get your pet help without any pause

I would like to thank Danielle for sharing her time, knowledge, and most of all her dedication to animals. I hope you all learned a thing or two from today’s interview! I know I did!

 If you have follow up questions or would like to ask an additional question, send us an email or comment and we will either respond or address it in the next part of the series!!!